Leptodactylus rhodomerus

Leptodactylus rhodomerus
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Amphibia
Order: Anura
Family: Leptodactylidae
Genus: Leptodactylus
Species:
L. rhodomerus
Binomial name
Leptodactylus rhodomerus
Heyer, 2005

Leptodactylus rhodomerus, the rose thigh thin-toed frog, red-thighed thin-toed frog, rana terrestre de muslos rojos, or rana dedilarga muslos roseados, is a species of frog in the family Leptodactylidae. It is endemic to Ecuador and Colombia.[2][3][1]

Description

The adult male frog is 112.2–143.8 mm long from nose to rear end and the adult female frog is about 133.5–157.8 mm long. This frog has a large body. There are three dark marks on the upper mouth that make a triangle. The skin of the frog's back is brown with a makr between the eyes.[3]

Habitat

This nocturnal[3] frog lives in rainforests and in Chaco biomes. Sometimes people see it in places that human beings have changed, such as pastureland. Scientists saw the frog between 0 and 1100 meters above sea level.[1]

Scientists have observed the frog inside some protected places: Reserva Ecológica Cotacachi-Cayapas, Reserva Ecológica Mache Chindul, Reserva Tesoro Escondido, Estación Biológica Bilsa, Reserva Río Canandé, Reserva Awa, and Parque Nacional Los Katíos. Scientists believe it could live in many more.[1]

Relationship to humans

Human beings sometimes catch this frog to eat.[1]

Reproduction

Scientists say this frog reproduces by larval development in streams in forests.[1]

Threats

The IUCN classifies this species as least concern of extinction. Principal threats include deforestation in favor of logging and agriculture. Water pollution in rivers also threatens this frog.[1]

Original description

  • Heyer WR (2005). "Variation and taxonomic clarification of the large species of the Leptodactylus pentadactylus species group (Amphibia: Leptodactylidae) from Middle America, Northern South America, and Amazonia". Arquivos de Zoologia (Full text). 37: 269–348. doi:10.11606/issn.2176-7793.v37i3p269-348. Retrieved January 6, 2026.

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g IUCN SSC Amphibian Specialist Group; Instituto Boitatá de Etnobiologia e Conservação da Fauna (2023). "Red-thighed Thin-toed Frog: Leptodactylus rhodomerus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2023 e.T136050A85906081. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2023-1.RLTS.T136050A85906081.en. Retrieved January 6, 2026.
  2. ^ Frost, Darrel R. "Leptodactylus peritoaktites Heyer, 2005". Amphibian Species of the World, an Online Reference. Version 6.0. American Museum of Natural History, New York. Retrieved January 6, 2026.
  3. ^ a b c Morley Read; Andrea Varela-Jaramillo; Santiago Ron; Gabriela Pazmiño-Armijos (September 26, 2022). Santiago Ron (ed.). "Leptodactylus rhodomerus Heyer, 2005". AmphibiaWeb (in Spanish). University of California, Berkeley. Retrieved January 6, 2026.